'We care' model earns small business award for local lab

A New Bedford toxicology lab that takes seriously its "We care" mission has been selected as the region's small business of the year. Optimum Labs Inc. was chosen out of a field of five area business nominations by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce.

NEW BEDFORD — A New Bedford toxicology lab that takes seriously its "We care" mission has been selected as the region's small business of the year. Optimum Labs Inc. was chosen out of a field of five area business nominations by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce.

Started by Angelina Hall and William Owens, Optimum provides substance abuse testing to business, school and recovery communities. It also offers a second chance of professional employment to former addicts.

"So many times we've seen professional individuals fall short in the area of addiction," said Heather Oliver, senior executive at Optimum, in accepting the award. "And we really pride ourselves in being a second chance company."

Oliver placed herself in that category, telling the approximately 80 chamber members attending the breakfast event, "When I say we, I mean me, because Optimum Labs gave me the opportunity."

Licensed in 2009, Optimum Labs had four employees in its early days and has since grown to more than 150 employees with facilities in New Jersey and Maryland, in addition to its Welby Road lab in the city's North End. The business also has an office on County Street in the city.

In March, Optimum COO Robert Johnson told The Standard-Times about the business' philosophy of hiring former addicts.

"These people have gone to a treatment facility, gotten healthy, gotten a year or two clean. Now they're out looking for jobs. There's a background check and when it comes up that there has been chemical abuse, they're less likely to be hired," he said. "Who is going to hire these people? They're out there."